Quito, Ecuador

Casa Santa Clara

Name: Casa Santa Clara
Address: Quito

Duplex suites with historic city views

A suite with ornate gold details and art on the walls, a side view of a blue and yellow patterned sofa, wooden beams above and a doorway through to a room with table, lamp and more art on the walls. You can also see a doorway leading to courtyard views.

A stylishly restored historic home with five individually designed suites

With elegant rooms tucked within a restored 19th-century house, Casa Santa Clara is a luxury boutique hotel in Quito’s UNESCO-designated Historic Center. Inside, a passageway opens up to a central courtyard, with original stone columns complemented by sculptures and potted plants. There are five individually designed suites, each arranged over two levels and with its own kitchen, spacious living area and fireplace.

Original exposed beams and brickwork blend with contemporary touches in steel and glass, while layered textures, antique furniture and Ecuadorian art add warmth and character. Tall windows and balconies overlook Plaza Santa Clara, which hosted the city’s first covered market.

At breakfast, order dishes tailored to your preferences, served alongside tropical fruits, house-made granola and llapingachos (Andean potato pancakes). Throughout the day, you can also order snacks, small plates and drinks including freshly made cocktails and cacao con queso – hot chocolate served with cheese.

Bespoke experiences here are designed to immerse you in Quito’s daily life and culture. Take a walking tour focused on art and architecture, visit artisans’ studios or have a private, sommelier-led tasting of Ecuadorian wines.

Highlights

Head up to the roof terrace for sundowners and views over the plaza, across the city and, on clear days, of Cotopaxi volcano

Book Master Suite Nogal – sleeping five – with direct rooftop access and a private, interior courtyard looking up at the domes of Santa Clara Monastery

View the hotel’s art collection, with original paintings by Ecuadorian masters, sculptures and contemporary pieces dotted around the hotel

Browse local ingredients and seasonal produce at Mercado San Francisco, before hands-on cooking class with the hotel’s chef

Be guided through a ceremonial cacao ritual with sound healing and meditation, taking place in your private suite

A small round table with four chairs and a basket in the centre, in front of a framed painting and tall doors leading to a balcony with views of rooftops.

A courtyard flanked by stone columns, with balconies visible above and paving stones with rocks and trees.

A side-on view showing a split-level room, with a bed at the top level under wooden beams and a table with yellow chairs in a kitchen area below.

A large bed with white linens and a pale green, ornately shaped headboard is flanked by bedside tables with lamps and sits under a sloping wooden ceiling.

A plaza with a flight of stone steps and white buildings behind, with palm trees and two people visible.

Open doors lead to a wrought iron balcony with views over a square and to rooftops beyond.

A room with polished wooden floors and a wooden, beamed ceiling, vintage style sofas and decorative elements including framed paintings and sculptural light fittings. A tall window with wooden frames is casting light across the floor.

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Plan your trip to Ecuador

Whatever you want from your adventure in Ecuador, our team of expert travel designers is ready to help.

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Places to combine Casa Santa Clara with

Positive Impact

The Cloud Forests

Mashpi Lodge

High in Ecuador’s cloud forest and lower montane rainforest, Mashpi Lodge sits at the heart of a private reserve surrounded by one of the planet's richest concentrations of biodiversity.

Otavalo Area

Hacienda Zuleta

Our favourite hacienda accommodation in Ecuador. This 17th century property was formerly the residence of a much-loved president and remains in his family to this day. The illustrious history of the property shines through in every room, many decorated with antiques dating back to the original owners.

The libraries and communal areas are replete with photographs, paintings and exotic furniture, many made as gifts from abroad to the former president. Far from being a museum piece the hacienda is still very active with more than 2,000 hectares of pastureland; mainly used for cattle and horses (the stables have around 100 horses) as well as a trout farm. The estate produces its own cheese onsite and there is also an interesting program for the rehabiliation of Condors.

The surrounding countryside and nearby village are beautifully picturesque and relaxing. There are fifteen well-appointed rooms and service is helpful and friendly. A great deal of care is taken to ensure that you make the most of the wonderful surrounds and there are a number of activities possible including horse-riding, mountain biking, hiking, birdwatching and visits to the local community with its own weaving workshops.

The hotel is located some distance from the Otavalo Market itself (just over an hour) so it makes most sense to make the visit to the market on the journey to (or from) Quito.